Podcasting FAQ - Students

Podcasting FAQ - Students

The ANU will soon begin Podcasting lecture audio recordings made through the Digital lecture delivery service. This document is targeted mostly at students.

What is Podcasting?

See the Wikipedia article about Podcasting

What will I need to take advantage of the podcast lecture audio?

You will need a software program called a podcatcher or an aggregator. A podcatcher is usually an always-on program which starts when the computer is started and runs in the background and determines the location of the most recent item and automatically downloads it to your computer. Some podcatchers, such as iTunes, also automatically make the newly downloaded episodes available to a your portable media player, such as an iPod.

What's the difference between podcasting and obtaining the lecture recordings for my course through the normal DLD service in WebCT?

Most podcasts are really just announcements that let your podcatcher know that new material is available for your listening pleasure. The content is normally managed by your podcatcher.

Will I need an iPod to listen to DLD lectures now?

No. If your lecturer is using the DLD service to make their lecture audio recordings available through the WebCT site for their course, you will still be able to access them in the usual way if you are a student enrolled in that course. However, if your lecturer chooses to also make the recordings publicly available, you will also be able to access the recordings through this page. If you have a podcatcher like iTunes installed on your computer, you will be able to receive new recordings automatically.

How do I configure iTunes to receive podcast lectures automatically?

In order to subscribe to a podcast you need to add the feed to your podcast software:

1. Copy the URL from the DLD Lecture Recording page in your course:

2. Paste the URL into your podcast software. The details of how you do this will vary depending on your software, but you should look out for buttons or links which say "Add" or "Subscribe". In iTunes, "Subscribe to Podcast..." is under the Advanced menu Other podcast software packages include Juice and Doppler. For both of these you should follow steps 1 and 2 above.

What's the difference between podcasting and delivering the lecture recordings for my course through the normal DLD service in WebCT?

In short, not a lot. Most podcasts are really just announcements that let your podcatcher know that new material is available for your listening pleasure. The content is normally managed by a podcatcher.

Will I need an iPod to listen to DLD lectures now?

No. You can still liusten to recordings on a computer as before.

Is help available for setting up a podcatcher?

THE DIVISION OF INFORMATION CANNOT PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THESE PROGRAMS.

For an iTunes tutorial, see http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/tutorial/

Information on configuring other podcatchers may be available on their home web site.

Why doesn't the ANU put these lecture recordings on iTunesU like Berkeley and Stanford?

Interesting question. What additional value would iTunes U provide to you? Please tell us.

What is the difference between podcasting and downloading?

Downloading mp3s allows you to keep the recordings indefinitely. You can listen via computer or transfer them to any compatible device, such as a portable mp3 player. Podcasting is simply an automated form of mp3 downloading. By subscribing to podcasts, the podcasting software downloads new files as soon as they become available.